Similarly, Taylor (e.g., 1983; Taylor & Levin, 1976; Wood, Taylor, & Lichtman, 1985; Meyer & Taylor, 1986) spent several years investigating the processes by which people cope with negative life events. Her analysis revealed that three hallmarks of successful adjustment are finding meaning in an experience, which corresponds 12 roughly to the need for purpose, maintaining mastery over the environment (i.e., selfefficacy), and maintaining self-esteem through self-enhancing evaluations (which includes perceiving one’s actions as good and just). Taylor examined autobiographical accounts of victimization and concluded that successful coping is linked directly to the perception that negative events serve a higher purpose (Taylor, 1983). For example, she found that over half of breast cancer victims reported that their illnesses caused them to reappraise their lives. This included a reported increase in self-knowledge and a tendency to derive greater satisfaction from current relationships. Negative setbacks thus appear to threaten feelings of purpose, which in turn instigate the need to view misfortune as being linked to future, positive outcomes — in this case, a greater appreciation for life.